Children in Gaza still suffering after Israel-Palestine conflict, UNICEF warns

[Violet_Crumble]

UNITED NATIONS, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The children in Gaza are continuing to suffer both physically and psychological three months after the cessation of the Israel-Palestine conflict, the UN children's Fund (UNICEF) warned Tuesday.

"It is critical that supplies and materials needed for recovery and rehabilitation are allowed in," said Patricia McPhillips, UNICEF's special representative to the occupied Palestinian territory.

The agency, in a news release issued Tuesday, said that the fighting took a particularly heavy toll on children's psychological well-being, with a recent UN study reaffirming that mental health, anxiety and stress are the main health problems in Gaza.

It said UNICEF and its partners are boosting psychosocial support to children and young people, providing mine-risk education in schools and communities, supporting remedial education, and organizing vaccination campaigns. It is also focusing on improving skills of health care providers and caregivers to improve maternal, newborn and child health.

The 22-day Israeli offensive on Gaza which broke out last December killed at least 1,300 Palestinians and wounded some 5,300.According to UNICEF, roughly one-third of all casualties were children.

Up till now, there are still 10 percent of Gaza's population remains without electricity and 9 percent with little access to safe water, UNICEF said, adding that primary health clinics in the south are recording significantly higher prevalence of water and sanitation-related infectious diseases, including acute bloody diarrhea, over the same period last year.

In addition, food, fuel and cash are in short supply, and 65 essential drugs were out of stock at Gaza's Central Store, according to the agency.

UNICEF also said that five children have died in unexploded ordnance-related incidents since the end of the conflict and at least 14 were injured in related violence.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/29/content_11276564.htm

[cboy4]

1. Maybe some of the rich Arab countries should send

help. That's one of the richest areas of the world.

Since Iran supplies Hamas with their missiles, you'd think they'd pony up some humanitarian aid.

Then again those asshole Hamas militants would probably stockpile it and not allow it to get to those in need.

[Violet_Crumble]

2. The article talks about supplies not being allowed in...

You must have missed it:

'A main impediment to recovery efforts continues to be lack of access. An average of 132 trucks entered Gaza daily in March, compared with 475 in May 2007. Among the items that have not been allowed in since the conflict ended are UNICEF educational supplies, including teacher training and early childhood development kits, as well as recreational material including music instruments.'

I guess stuff like that and the fact that the article was about the suffering children in Gaza have been going through are really unimportant compared to having a bit of a froth-fest about Iran and Hamas...

[cboy4]

3. Uh huh. Isn't it just fascinating how Hamas is able to smuggle in

a seemingly endless supply of Grad rockets to fire deep into Israeli territory, yet they can't do the same with humanitarian supplies. Why is that I wonder.

Sure, I believe Israel should allow supplies in, even though Hamas will steal most of it for themselves.

However, having said that Israel should allow supplies in, perhaps the militants should focus more on food and medicine and less on weapons.

[varelse]

4. Hamas' political power depends on support

from the parents of these same kids. They've already built and maintain a network of social services - that is how Hamas has retained the popular support of the Palestinians in Gaza.
It's just not in Hamas' political self interest to block or divert these supplies - quite the reverse.

That, more than the fear of weapons being snuck in under cover of food, medical supplies and paper (yes, blank paper was also banned) may be the reason critical aid is not being allowed to reach the children.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. Yeah, don't know why UNICEF didn't think of that!

I really should insert a sarcasm icon there lest someone take that seriously....Yep, who needs to worry too much about the children of Gaza or supplies not being allowed in by Israel when it's so clear that that's what tunnels are for! Y'know, I'm sure it's not all that much trouble to widen a tunnel or two so a whole lot of big trucks can go trundling along. Or do you think something like donkeys or people carrying backpacks would be enough for the population of Gaza?

btw, how come yr stating with authority what Hamas will supposedly do? Are you on chatting terms with them, or just making that up?

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HamdenRice]

7. That's completely illogical. Food aid is distributed above board, not smuggled

Surely you know that weapons are smuggled in through tunnels and other clandestine means, and that food and medicine has to go through border checkpoints, where it is subject to the Israeli embargo, right?

[oberliner]

8. Food is most definitely smuggled as well

In fact, most of what is smuggled is not weapons but food, clothing, and other merchandise.

[oberliner]

9. Why this Chinese government news source?

Just curious.

Here is the full UNICEF report:

http://www.unicef.org/media/media_49515.html

[Violet_Crumble]

10. Why not? It was the article I was reading at the time...

Just curious...

Why ask a lame question like that rather than comment on the content of the article? I would like to think that the plight of children in Gaza is far more important than what country an article is from...

[oberliner]

11. I did link to the UNICEF report

So I did do more than just ask a lame question!

I don't understand why the Chinese government news agency is featured so prominently on Google News and the like alongside other more reputable sources.

I think the UNICEF report speaks for itself and should be read by all.